Track pad retention device

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to the field of tracks for tracked vehicles and more particularly to tracks having removable track pads.

United States Patent Sinclair et al. 1 Feb. 15, 1972 [54] TRACK PAD RETENTION DEVICE [56] References Cited 72] Inventors: Alex H. Sinclair, Southfield; Ted Kozowyk, UNITED STATES PATENTS Dem, bmh Mich; Ralph Reyndds, 3,231,316 1/1966 Ruf ..305/3s Saratoga; Robert F. Neargarder, San Jose; Roben H. Edson, Monte Sereno, all of FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 396,665 1/1966 Switzerland ..305/35 [73] Assignee The United States of America 85 OTHER PUBLICATIONS represented by the Secretary of the Army [22] Filed; 24 1970 Eichiveher-German Printed App. No. 1,143,727 Feb. l4,

I963 305-35 [21] Appl- No: 13,404 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Johnson Attorney-Harry M. Saragovitz, Edward J. Kelly, HerbertBerl 52] us Cl ..305/38 n Maxwenv-wanace This invention relates to thefield of tracks for tracked vehicles ABSTRACT and more particularly to tracks having removable track pads.

PATENTEBFEB 1 5 I972 Fl (3. l

FIG.2

INVENTORS BY ll ATTORNEYS TRACK PAD RETENTION DEVICE The invention described herein may be maNufactured, used and licensed by or for The Government for governmental purposes without payment to us of any royalty thereon.

Removable pads for tracked vehicles are well known, the same being added to the track when the vehicle is to travel on paved roads to increase ride comfort and reduce grouser wear and noise. The pad is removed when the vehicle is covering terrain requiring the assistance of the track grousers for mobility. It is therefore important to provide a fastening means that is sturdy and easy to operate.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a new and improved track pad retention device which allows the attachment of the track pad without interruption of the track pad surface or the wheel path surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide holes in the track shoe for the locking pieces that are straight-through holes.

A further object of the invention is to provide holes to simplify the cleaning of mud, or the like, from the track shoe pad cavity, said cleaning being necessary when the elastic track pads are installed for operating track on smooth surface road without damaging the road by aggressive grouser at the track.

The above and other objects of the invention will appear more clearly from the following more detailed description of the invention, and from the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a track shoe where same is interconnected to next shoe, not shown; and

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical section of FIG. 1 taken substantially along line 22 thereof.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a track shoe body link. An elastic rubber cushion 12 is secured in place upon track shoe 10, the same seating in a recess or cavity formed in the shoe by means of opposedgrouser ribs 28. Also provided are a combination of pad plates 20, having a first bore'36 therethrough to receive a tapered sleeve 16, a

. tapered threaded nut and a capscrew 14 having a stem 34 threaded on one end thereof. The pad plate is beveled continuously along two edges 24 thereof to match and engage the tapers on sleeve 16 and nut 18. As tapered sleeve 16 and tapered nut 18 are drawn toward each other by turning capscrew 14, the threaded end of stem 34 thereof engages tapered nut 18; tapered nut 18 and sleeve 16 contact pad plate 20 on bevels 24 and also contact a second bore surface 26 through the track shoe grouser ribs 28. With this tightening motion of the capscrew l4 and stem 34, a wedging action is produced; the pad plate 20 is forced against the mating surface 30, of track shoe 10, to provide a positive locked-in track pad.

During operation of track shoe body 10 on a tracked vehicle, the vehicle roadwheel, not shown, load, along wheel path 22 is transmitted through roadwheel rubber cushion 32, track shoe body 10, track pad 12 to the road surface without loading pad retension capscrew 14 ortapered sleeve 16, thereby increasing the life of track shoe body 10 and pad 12. Also during operation as aid in the prevention of undesirable entry of dirt and moisture, seals of rubber material may be located at ends of pad plate 20 between the parts as shown.

To detach pad 12 from grouser ribs 28, pad retention capscrew 14 is rotated in an opposite direction from that used when first attaching the pad 12 within its seating cavity. This movement of capscrew 14 is imparted to tapered sleeve 16 and stem 34 moving same away from contact with tapered nut 18, which in turn allows the nut and bolt to be ejected from hole surfaces 26 which allows the pad 12 to be removed outwardly.

We wish to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

We claim: I

I. An endless track embodying articulate track shoes and ribs, a plurality'of metal track links each connected to an adjacent link,

a cavity defined by said ribs in the ground engaging surface of said track shoes adapted to receive and hold therein a removable elastic cushion,

a plate member bonded to said cushion, I

a first bore defined in said cushion adjacent said plate member, i I

a second bore defined within said track shoe ribs, 7

a tapered sleeve member and tapered nut held within said first bore contacting said plate member,

said bolt, tapered sleeve and tapered nut being seated within said second bore to hold said elastic cushion firmly within said cavity. I

2. An endless track embodying articulate track shoes and ribs, a plurality of metal track links each connected to an adjacent link,

a cavity defined by said ribs in the ground engaging surface of said track shoes adapted to receive and hold therein a removable elastic cushion,

a plate member bonded to said cushion,

a first bore defined in said cushion adjacent said plate member,

a second bore defined within said track shoe ribs,

a tapered sleeve member and tapered nut held within said first bore contacting said plate member,

said bolt, tapered sleeve and tapered nut being seated within said second bore to hold said elastic cushion firmly within said cavity,

wherein said bolt passes through said tapered sleeve and is threaded into said nut and bolt to draw said nut and sleeve towards each other thereby wedging said plate against said cavity in said shoe to hold said pad within said shoe.

3. An endless track embodying articulate track shoes and ribs, as set forth in claim 2 wherein,

when said bolt and tapered nut are drawn together there are provided means to load the track shoe cushion without loading the bolt, nut and sleeve assembly, thereby providing longer track life. 

1. An endless track embodying articulate track shoes and ribs, a plurality of metal track links each connected to an adjacent link, a cavity defined by said ribs in the ground engaging surface of said track shoes adapted to receive and hold therein a removable elastic cushion, a plate member bonded to said cushion, a first bore defined in said cushion adjacent said plate member, a second bore defined within said track shoe ribs, a tapered sleeve member and tapered nut held within said first bore contacting said plate member, said bolt, tapered sleeve and tapered nut being seated within said second bore to hold said elastic cushion firmly within said cavity.
 2. An endless track embodying articulate track shoes and ribs, a plurality of metal track links each connected to an adjacent link, a cavity defined by said ribs in the ground engaging surface of said track shoes adapted to receive and hold therein a removable elastic cushion, a plate member bonded to said cushion, a first bore defined in said cushion adjacent said plate member, a second bore defined within said track shoe ribs, a tapered sleeve member and tapered nut held within said first bore contacting said plate member, said bolt, tapered sleeve and tapered nut being seated within said second bore to hold said elastic cushion firmly within said cavity, wherein said bolt passes through said tapered sleeve and is threaded into said nut and bolt to draw said nut and sleeve towards each other thereby wedging said plate against said cavity in said shoe to hold said pad within said shoe.
 3. An endless track embodying articulate track shoes and ribs, as set forth in claim 2 wherein, when said bolt and tapered nut are drawn together there are provided means to load the track shoe cushion without loading the bolt, nut and sleeve assembly, thereby providing longer track life. 